Water seal for steam power plants



July 14, 1931. R. R. WATERMAN WATER SEAL FOR STEAM POWER PLANTS FiledApril 22, 192e Patented July 14, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEnUssELL E. WATERMAN, or LoNG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoE To FARMERSNATIONAL BANK or GREENVILLE, oHIo, TRUSTEE, oE GREENVILLE, 01110, A CoE-PORATION F OHIO WATER SEAL FORv STEAM POWER PLANTS Application ledAprily 22,

My invention relates to water seals for steam power plants, moreparticularly an apparatus for .separating the air from the Water beingsent to the boiler pumps in a steam power plant, and the objects of myinvent-ion are: first, to provide a meansfor separatingthe air from thewater in its passage from the condenser tothe boiler and releasingit toatmosphere; second, to provide a device of this class which is positivein its action; third, to provide an apparatus of this class which willoperate efliciently using either atmospheric pressure or partial vaculunon the condenser; fourth, to provide a uovelly constructed waterseal ofthis class, and, fifth, to provide an apparatus'of this class which isvery simple and economical of construction, positive in its action,efficient, durable and which will not readily deteriorate or get out oforder.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction, com--bination and arrangement of parts and por-,

tions as will hereinafter be described in detail and particularly setforth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the characters' of reference thereon which form a partof $0 this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of my apparatus through 1-1of Fig. 2, showing some of the parts and portions in elevation tofacilitate the illustration; Fig.y

85' 2 is a sectional view through 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is afragmentary, sectional view through 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters kof reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the 14V several views yof the` drawings.

The separating chamber l, separating chamber cover 2, diaphragm 3, watervalve stem 4, float 5, float supporting arm 6, air Vvalve 7 float armpivot bolt 8, air` outlet coni ductor 9, water valve stem spring 10,drain valve 11, water valve 12, water outlet conductor 13, conductor 14,bypass piston valve 15, branch conductor 16, bypass valve intake passage17, condenser pump intake 18, gear I pump 19, pump drive shaft 20, andstuffing 1926. serian No. 103,810.

box 21 constitute the principalparts'and" `of the member 1, is adiaphragm 3. VSecured to this diaphragm 3 is thev upper end of the valvestem 4, which valve stem 4 is providedV on its upper end above saiddiaphragm with a flanged washer 4a upon which is ymounted thecompression spring lO which is positioned in an invert-ed cup shapedportion 2b mounted centrally on the cover member2.` Thus it' will benoted that `there is provided beth the spring 10 and the diaphragm3 forregulating the movementl of the valve stem. 4. Secured on `thelower endof the valve stem 4 is a valve12 which seats in an orifice v1b in thelower central portion o-f the housing 1. This housing 1 is providedbelowv the orifice 1b withV a side outlet 13 which connectsthe chamber 1withth'e boiler pump intake. It isV also provided with.v a valve 11,which kserves as a drain valve for draining both the chamber 1 and theconductor 13.V Mounted around the valve stem 4 is a float member 5 whichis pivotally supported on the arm member 6 Vwhich is pivoted onlthe bolt8 and provided with ay slotagin which is ya pin mounted inv the valve 7which is the air outlet valveA which seats in the opening to the`conductor 9 as shownfbestin Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, it being notedthat'the lower `end of thisvalve member'lirestsinV arecess ina casing1,`it also being noted that the housing 1 is :provided with an offsetportion to accommodate the valve 7 andthe extended end of the lever 6 asshown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This lever 6, it will be noted, isfurcated at its op@- posite ends so that ,it ispositionedon oppositesides of lugs on the float `5 andajlso on the Lopposite sides `.ofVtheqvalve 7.l The conductor 14fwhichcommunicates with the lowerV side ofthe housing 1, communicates with onel a sideI of a -gear pump 19 whichisof theconventional type, andthe other side communi-A power pla-nts, aseparating chamber connect` Y cates with the conductor 18 which leads tothe condenser. This conductor 18 is provided with a branch 16 whichcommunicates with a small orilice 15a in the piston 15 which isreciprocally mounted in an upright housing 15d in which the piston ismounted, and this piston is provided with a. spring 150, tending to holdit downwardly against shoulders 15b in the housing 15d. The interior ofthis housing is provided with a bypass 17 communicating with theconductor 14. The pump 19 is provided with an extended shaft 20 providedwith a housing upon which is mounted a stuiling box 21 for providing aseal around the said shaft. p

The operation or' the water seal apparatus is as follows: water ispumped from the condenser by means of the gear pump 19 and passesthrough the conductor 14 into the chamber 1 in which the air separatesfrom the water and raises to the upper portion of the chamber and thewater settles to the lower portion. lVhen the water reaches a certainlevel in the housing` 1, the lioat 5 is raised, closing the outlet valve7, thus building up a pressure in chamber 1 and raising the diaphragm 3which in turn raises the valve 12 ott' from seat 1b and allows the waterto pass to the conductor 13, thence to the boiler pump, not shown. Ithowever the supply of water in the housing 1 is low, the float 5 willlower, which in turn will lower the valve 7 and permit air to passthrough the outlet 9 to atmosphere or to the condenser. In case thepressure is high in the housing 1, the pressure of the water caused bythe pump 19 will raise the piston 15 and permit the water and air tobypass through the conductor 16 back to the conductor 18 and through thepump again. Vhen the pressure lowers in the chamber 1, the valve 12 willclose on the seat 1b, thus not allowing the water level in chamber 1 todrop low enough to allow air to pass through the valve 12 into theconductor 13 and into the boiler pump. Then more water is supplied itwill then pass directly from the condenser and into the pump 19 into thehousing 1, raising the pressure, whereupon the diaphragm 3-will causethe valve 12 to be raised and permit the boiler pump to draw water fromthe housing 1.`

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire toinclude in the scope of myinvention the construction, combination andarrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a water seal apparatus for steam ed to a water supply and providedwith a diaphragm in its upper end, a valve supported by said diaphragmand seated in the lower end of said chamber, a float actuated valvecommunicating with said chamber near the upper side thereof, an outletconductor communicating with said chamber through said valve at thelower end of said chamber, and a second discharge conductor connected tothe upper portion of said chamber and controlled by said float actuatedvalve.

2. In a water seal apparatus, a separating chamber member having a sidewall and a discharge opening at its lower end, an inlet opening -at itslower portion, and a second discharge opening at its upper portion, adiaphragm at the upper end of the chamber member, a valve mounted overthe discharge opening at the lower end, a stem connecting the diaphragmto the valve, a second valve in the side wall of the chamber member forcontrolling the second discharge opening, a float mounted within thechamber member around the stem, and a lever pivotally mount-` ed withinthe chamber member operatively v y connected to the second valve, saidlever extending inwardly from its side Wall and pivotally connected atits inner end to the float.

3. In a water seal apparatus, a separating chamber member having adischarge opening at its lower portion, an inlet opening at said lowerportion, and a second discharge opening at its upper portion, adiaphragm at the upper end of the chamber member above the seconddischarge opening, a valve mountedl over the discharge opening at thelower portion of the chamber member and operatively connected to saiddiaphragm, and a float controlled valve for controlling the discharge ofyfluid through the second discharge opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, ythis 15th day of April, 1926.

RUSSELL R. IVATERMAN.

